Iowa’s defense doesn’t need a lot of hype to feel dangerous. Under Phil Parker, it has become one of those units that shows up every year, absorbs personnel losses, and still finds a way to sit comfortably among the nation’s best.
The real question for 2026 isn’t whether the Hawkeyes will be good. It’s how they’ll be good.
One place to start is takeaways, because last season’s interception total was low by Iowa standards. The Hawkeyes picked off just 11 passes, a dip from the kind of numbers this defense has been known to produce.
That should change in 2026 if the secondary comes together the way it looks capable of doing. Zach Lutmer is expected to take a big step forward, Deshaun Lee brings experience, and the additions of Anthony Hawkins and Tyler Brown at safety give Iowa more ball-hunting talent.
The track record is there, too: Iowa had 16 interceptions in 2024, 10 in 2023, 15 in 2022, and 25 in 2021. That kind of history points toward a return to the aggressive, turnover-heavy version of this defense.
The run defense is where the standard stays absurdly high. Since 2019, Iowa has held opponents to 3.4, 3.7, 3.1, 2.8, 3.2, 2.8, and 3.5 yards per carry.
That’s the kind of consistency most programs can only dream about. Still, there’s at least some reason to wonder whether that number ticks upward in 2026, because Iowa has to replace three defensive line starters and a starting linebacker.
That’s a lot of experience and production to reload in the middle of the defense. Even so, keeping the run game in check matters because it lets Iowa stay on schedule and attack on passing downs, where this group does its best damage.
The sack picture may be a little more complicated. The overall total could dip, but individual production should still pop.
Kenneth Merrieweather, Iose Epenesa, and Kahmari Brown have a real chance to combine for at least 15 sacks as a rotational group off the edge. Brown and Epenesa, in particular, could become the go-to tandem when Iowa needs to speed up a quarterback.
The bigger issue is depth. Iowa’s top end looks strong, but the next layer is a question mark, and that can cap the total.
After posting 26 sacks last year, 29 in 2024, 33 in 2023, and 35 in 2022, a range of 24-26 sacks in 2026 feels like a realistic landing spot.
In Other News...
Iowa Football Mourns A Loss That Hits Far Beyond The Field
Will Moon, a former Iowa Athletics donor and 1983 graduate, died July 16, leaving behind a legacy that reached well beyond the usual bounds of a booster relationship. Moon and his family were deeply involved in supporting the Hawkeyes through a range of programs and endowments, and their commitment became part of the fabric of the athletic department over time. Visitation is scheduled for July 20, with funeral services to follow on July 21.
For Iowa, the loss carries an especially personal weight because Moons impact was never limited to one sport or one season. He and Renee were central to initiatives such as the Kinnick Edge Campaign and to endowments tied to football operations and broader athletic support, earning a level of respect that ran through the department. Beth Goetz and Kirk Ferentz both reflected on that generosity and loyalty, underscoring how much of Moons presence will be felt long after the services are over. [Read more 🡒]